“Akala ko noon wala nang pag-asa, pero nakita ko na madami pa palang pwedeng mangyari at pwedeng magawa. Maniwala at magtiwala ka lang dahil habang may pangarap tayo, may pag-asa.”
Hope, determination, and faith in life are the things Ms. Lourdes G. Cruz held onto to fulfill her dream of having a college degree at the age of 50. She received her diploma as one of the 594 graduates during the 33rd Midyear Commencement Exercises last February 16, 2024 through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) offered by Central Luzon State University.
Accompanied by her 90-year-old father, Mr. Aquilio Cruz patiently waited for her daughter as her name was called to receive her diploma in Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education.
“Sinama ko yung tatay ko kasi gusto kong iparanas sa kanya yung pakiramdam na meron syang anak na nakatapos ng kolehiyo,” Cruz added being the first child to finish a college degree as a tribute to her parents, especially her proud father.
Lourdes faced many challenges as a single working mother but she didn't let those hindrances stop her to dream while supporting his son to also finish his education, who eventually became an engineer and now a faculty of the College of Engineering.
“Napagtapos ko na yung anak ko kahit single mom ako, kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko after niya makatapos ng pag-aaral, ako naman,” Lourdes declares as she believed that education is the key to success and refuses to give up on her dream of obtaining a college degree. With the support of her son and her determination, Ms. Cruz proved that age is just a number and achieving one's dreams has no definite timeline.
CLSU - ETEEAP offers an alternative education delivery mode and promotes access to continuing quality higher education of Filipinos through an effective system of academic equivalency and accreditation of prior learning from relevant work experiences. For more information, visit the ETEEAP office or contact them thru eteeap@clsu.edu.ph.
